Electrical system for use with internal-combustion engines.



Y J. K. DELANO. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FOR USE WITH INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGiNES. APPLICATION FILED' 0509, I9l6.

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APPLICATION FILED DEC.9 I916- 1,253,217. Patented Jan.15,1918.

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ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FOR USE WITH INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED DEC-9,1916.

Patented Jan. 15, 1918.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

' JAMES K, DELANO, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FOR USE WITH INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

Original application filed April 17, 1915,

To all, whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES K. DELANo, a citizen of the United States, residing ,at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Electrical, Systems for Use with Internal-Combustion Engines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descrip-' tion of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to electrical systems for use with internal combustion engin'es; and it comprises more particularly systems adapted for use on motor vehicles in which internal combustion engines are employed as prime movers. The particular system chosen in this instance to illustrate the broad principles of the invention belongs to that class of power systems in which an internal combustion engine is employed to.propel the running gear of a motor vehicle, and in which a dynamo electric machine is arranged for connection to the shaft of the internal combustion engine in such manner as to be operable either as a motor for the purpose of initially revolving the engine shaft to start or crank the engine, or as a generator driven from the engine shaft after starting for the purpose of storing up I electrical energy in a storage battery or the like, such stored up energy being thereafter available for operating the dynamo electric machine as a motor to start the internal combustion engine, and for supplying current to .an ignition system and, optionally, to a lighting system.

An important feature of the invention consists in an advantageous disposition of electrical circuits and switch means controlling the same, the system being so'arranged as to afford maximum convenience and reliability in operation, together with simplicityof construction. The invention also contemplates a mechanical construction and arrangement of parts in which certain parts of the ignition system are compactly combined with a dynamo motor in such manner that the combination forms substantially an integral unit structurally, with the frame or ,housingof the dynamo motor inclosing all Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 15, 1918.

Serial No. 22,085. Divided and this application filed December 9. 1916. Serial No, 136,113.

- of this arrangement, to be more fully hereinafter described, the weight of the engine starting apparatus is reduced and the cost of manufacture is much less than where separate units are employed, one for starting the engine and generating power, and another for ignition; Apparatus of this character also has the advantage of being easily assembled with an internal. combuson the battery at high speeds. On the other a hand, when the machine operates as a motor, the series winding assists the shunt winding,

strengthening the field and producing a powerful starting tor ue. Moreover, the

arrangement is such that the series field resistance is lowered when the machine runs as a motor in starting, thus permitting heavy flow of current from the battery, and further insuring strong torque.

The features above mentioned, together withv others to be hereinafter pointed out, characterize the. present invention, which will be more fully set forth in the following description and in the appendedclaims. In order to clearly explain the principles underlying the invention, I have illustrated in the accompanying drawings certain especially advantageous forms which the invention may assume in practice. It is to be understood, however, that the examples here given are merely typical of apparatus within the scope of the invention, and that the invention is by no means limited thereto.

In the accompanying drawings Figures 1 and 2 are more or less diagrammatic representations of preferred wiring arrangements Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section, partly in elevation, through the dynamo motor and the ignition parts immediately associated therewith;

Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 3, with the cover removed; and

tor whose armature is indicated at 15. The

armature shaft also carries pinion 16 meshing with a revoluble distributor gear 17.

The poles of the dynamo motor, of which one is indicated at 18, are provided with three separate windings 19, 20 and 21. Winding 19 consists of a few turns of heavy wire and constitutes a series winding. 20 is another series Winding consisting of a greater number of turns than winding 19,

but Wound in the same direction. The twoseries windings are operated in parallel when the electric machine runs as a motorin starting. Winding 19 is cut out of circuit when the machine operates as a generator, the resistance of the series field windings being therefore increased. 21 is a shunt winding, connected across brushes 22 and 23, its direction of winding being opposite to series field windings 19and 20. Lead 24 connects series winding 19 to switch contact 25; while lead 26 connects series winding 20 to switch contact 27.

At 28 is indicated a storage battery which supplies electrical energy for operating the electric machine as. a motor when starting the engine, and which receives energy from the electric machine when the latter is driven by the engine as a generator. The battery is connected on one side by lead 29 to brush 23 of the dynamo motor, and to groundas at 30; While lead 31 connects the other side of the battery to switch contact 32.

Means are provided for controlling the electrical connections of the storage battery to the dynamo motor. Such means comprise in this instance a switch member 33 mounted upon but insulated'from a longitudinally shiftable rod or shaft 34, which is here shown in its neutral position, that is, in such position as to entirely disconnect the battery from the dynamo motor. By pushing on knob the switch member 33 may be moved agalnst the resistance of spring 36 so as to make a bridging connection between switch contacts 27 and 32 on the one hand, and contacts 32, 25 and 40' on the other, this being known as starting position. In this position of the switch, current flows from the battery through lead 31, contact 32, s vltch member 33, contact 27, lead 26,. series field winding 20, to brush 22, through the armature to brush 23, and thence through lead 29 to the other side of the battery. Current also flows from the bat- .ing 21.

tery through contact 32, switch member 33,

contact 25, lead 24, series field winding 19, to brush 22, and thence through the armature to the other side of the battery, as before, the two series fields being therefore connected in multiple. It will be seen that current also flows from the battery through shunt winding 21, the efi'ect of this current obviously being to reinforce the fieldand to cooperate with the current in the series field windings in producing a strong starting torque. H

Upon release of the knob 35, the switch is always returned to neutral or inoperative position by spring 36, the spring being now idle and neither under compression or tension. When the engine has speeded up and is driving the dynamo motor as a generator, the switch is moved quickly into running position? by pulling on the knob 35, manually or otherwise. In this latter position of the switch, the battery and dynamo motor are connected only through contacts 27 and 32. It will be seen also that series field winding 19 has been cut out, thus increasing the resistance of the series windings which were connected in multiple while starting, and that current flowing in the battery circuit from brushes 22 and 23 travels through series Winding 20 in a direction opposite to that in which it flows through shunt wind- By means of this arrangement a differential efi'ect is produced on the field and development of excessive charging voltage across the battery terminals at high speeds is prevented.

- In the best embodiment of the invention the storage battery and dynamo motor are also utilized to supply power to an ignition system comprising a transformer and distributing and interrupting mechanism, suitably connected thereto. 37 represents" the primary, and 38 the secondary, of a high tension transformer connected through a resistance 38 and lead 39 to switch contact 40, operatively associated with switch member 33 before described. The transformer" is also connected directly through lead 39 to switch contact 40. The transformer primary 37 is connectedthrough lead 41 to cooperating contacts 42 and 43, contact 43 being carried by a movable conductive arm 44 pivoted at 45 and connected to ground at 46. Gain 47 is arranged to revolve in conjunction with distributing gear 17, periodi- 51 are connected by leads 52 to the spark plugs 53 of the engine which, in the present example, is assumed to be a four cylinder engine. The brush 54, carried by but insulated from the revoluble distributing gear 17, is arranged to connect contacts 51 successively to contact ring 50 as the gear revolves, thus supplying current in proper sequence to the spark plugs of the engine cylinders, the spark being properly timed by the interrupting mechanism above described.

Assuming switch member 33 tohave been pushed into starting position, it is apparent that the switch connects the battery with the ignition system through contact 40, lead 39, and resistance 38. It is evident that in this position of the switch the resistance 38* is shunted, current passing through contact 4Q and lead 39 to the transformer. The advantages of this are ap-. parent; for at the moment of starting, the voltage drop in the storage battery is considerable; and if the battery happens to be partly discharged, the starting pull of current does not leave enough voltage to force current through both the resistance 38% and the transformer primary in suflici'ent quantity to produce sparks of the proper intensity, at the ignition plugs. By bridging or shunting the resistance in the manner described, the transformer primary receives sufficient current even though the battery voltage be materially below its normal value.

After the engine is running normally, and the switch ,33 has been moved into running position, it is apparent that current must flow through resistance 38 on its way to 1 the ignition circuit, the resistance being provided to prevent excessive flow of current when cam 37 is revolving at low speed. The

' current interruptions at high speed serve to keep the current within the limitspf the transformer and to prevent development of too much heat, which must be guarded against on account of the usual dust and water proof construction of the transformer coils, which allows very little ventilation.

- In the specific arrangement shown in Fig. 1, the switch member 33 is arranged to'be moved into starting position by a push against knob or'pedal 35, which may be conveniently located on the dash board where the system is employed in amotor vehicle.

As here shown, the switch is automatically.

returned by spring 36 from startingposition to neutral position as soon as knob 35 is releasedyand a'spring stop 55 is ar-' ranged to engage a notch in the rod 34 to yieldably hold the switch in neutral position.

pulling on knob 35 the switch may be, moved into running position, the stop 55 now engaging another notch on the switch rod to hold the switch'in running position.

When the switch is moved into intermediate or neutral position, both the igniflow back into the dynamo motor circuit,

the described arrangement doing away with the automatic reverse current cut out commonly employed in starting systems heretofore. proposed.

In Fig. 2 a slightly different scheme of circuits and controlling switch means is shown. Instead of winding a separate series coil as at 19 in Fig. 1, the series winding 56 may be connected at an intermediate point 57 through lead 58 to switch contact 59; while terminal 60 of the winding is connected through lead 61 to switch contact 62. The other terminal of the field is connected as before to brush 22. Switch contact 63 connects directly through lead 64 with the ignition system; while contact 65 is con- Onected through resistance 66 to said ignition system; the arrangement in this respect -being similar to that in Fig. 1. Switch contact 67 connects one side of the battery to the switch member, the other circuit connections being similar in general to the arrangement illustrated in Fig. 1.

In the arrangement of Fig. 2, the switch member is shown in running position with the spring 36 idle, that is, neither under compression nor tension. The spring stop 55 holds the switch rod'in this position. The dynamo motor is now being operated as a generator, supplying current for the ignition system and storing power in the'bat' tery. In this position it will be seen that the entire series field winding 56 is in. circuit with the generator and battery, and that the current passing through this winding creates a field opposed to that created by the of engagement with all the switch contacts.

The spring stop 55 may be arranged as shown to hold the switch in neutral position. To start the engine the knob 35 is pushed to force the switch into its limiting position inthe""opposite direction, resistance 66' being thereby .shunted through contact 63 and lead 64 while that part of series field winding .56 included between points 57 and 60 iscut out, theremainder of the series winding being in circuit with the battery through contact 59 and lead 58. ,The resistance of the series winding is thus reduced, permitting a heavy flow of current from the battery and insuring a strong starting,

torque.:'

It is evident that in the arrangement of Fig. 1, the..operator starts the engine by pushing against the knob with'his hand orotherwise to force the switch member into starting position, holding the knob in this position against the opposing pressure of the controlling spring 36, until the engine has picked up and is operating normally. Upon releasing the knob or lever, the switch automatically moves back into its central or neutral. position, whereupon a pull on the knob draws the switch into running position where it is yieldingly held by the stop. To stop the engine a push with the foot suffices to release the switch rod from the stop and to move the switch again to neutral.

In the arrangement of Fig. 2, the operator starts the engine as before by pushing against the knob with his foot, but upon release the switch is automatically moved directly to running position by the controlling spring, instead of going to neutral. To stop a the engine, the knob is pulled out and is held in neutral by the spring stop.

I It is evident that either type of switch may be used with either of the Wiring schemes illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

A particularly advantageous method of combining the dynamo motor and parts of the-ignition system in a structural unit in accordance with the present invention is shown in Figs. 3 to 5. The casing or hous-i ing 7 5 supports the pole pieces 76 with the series and shunt field windings 77 and 78,

respectively, binding posts being provided as at 79 for connections to the field windings. The armature 80 has its shaft 81 supported in bearings 82. Sprocket pinion 83 adapts the armature shaft for driving connection to the shaft of an internal combustion engine. At its opposite end, the arma- I ring 50, which is suitably mounted on a stationary distributer block 93, composed of suitable insulating material and secured as..

at 9 1 to an extension of the dynamo motor casing. The ring 50 is adapted for electrical connection to the transformer secondary by means of an appropriate lead 95. Said insulator block also carries contact terminals, not shown in Figs. 3 to 5, but corresponding to contacts 51 of Figs. 1 and 2, which may be connected by suitable leads to the 'sparkplugs of the engine. These contact terminals correspond in number to the number of engine cylinders; in this instance, four. As the distributer gear revolves, the

brush makes continuous contact with ring 50 and connects said terminals therewith successively. As the distributer gear is driven through intermediate transmission means from the engine shaft, current is thus supplied to the ignition plugs in properly timed sequence. I

Surrounding and bearing upon sleeve 86 is a governor sleeve 98 which carries at its outer end the interrupter cam 99. This governor sleeve is capable of limited movement of revolution relatively to sleeve 86 of the distributer gear, the provision for controlling this movement being described hereinafter. At a location adjacent the outer or front face of the distributer block, is disposed a separable ball bearing 100, of which the inner race is carried by said governor sleeve, while the outer race is mounted on an assembly plate-101. This bearing centers the cam true in relation to interrupter arm 102, which is pivoted on the assembly plate at 103, and has its end 103 bent to lie in the path of the interrupter cam lobes. Secured to said arm is a fiat spring 1041, which carries a contact 105 normally engaging another contact 106, this latter contact being adj ustably mounted in an insulated connector member 107, to which current from the primary circuit of the ignition system may be led by way of insulated binding post 108. A spring 109 tends to maintain the arm 102 in the position shown in Fig. 1; while a plate or spring 110 serves to hold the arm on its pivot and also to connect it electrically to the assembly plate 101, this latter being connected to ground (dynamo frame) through a conductive strip 111 and a spring contact 112 or the like, the latter being secured to the cover 113 of the distributer gear driving mechanism. A condenser 111 is bridged across the connector 107 and the assembly plate 101 on which the arm 102 is pivoted. A felt oiling roller 115, suitably mounted in the line of travel of cam 99, serves to lubricate the cam. As here shown, said oiling roller is carried by an arm or bracket 116 attached to but insulated from binding post 108. A cover 117 incloses the parts of the primary ignition circuit just described, and abuts against the distributer block, being conveniently held in place by binding post 108, which projects through the cover but is insulated therefrom.

As stated, the governor sleeve 98 is capable of limited revoluble movement relative to distributer-sleeve 86. This is for the purpose of providing for spark advance which is here, accomplished automatically by centrifugal means. Said means comprise weights 118, pivoted at 119, and provided with rounded projections 120 engaging terminal recesses in arms 121, whlch extend from the governor sleeve at a location near its rear end and ad acent the distributer the distributer gear through the agency of coiled spring 122, which is secured to the sleeve at 123 and to the distributer gear at any of the points 124, a number of such polnts being provided for adjusting the spring tension. As the speed of the armature shaft increases, revolving the distributer gear and governor sleeve therewith, the weights tend to'swing outwardly and thereby to turnthe governor sleeve ahead of the distributor gear, thus advancing the spark. The coiled spring 122 opposes this action of the Weights and returns the governor sleeve to its original position when the speed decreases sufiiciently.

The construction of the combined dynamo motor and ignition system above described is especially advantageous, among other ternal combustion engines, the combination,

reasons, because it permits the design of the starting devlce to be kept within small dimen'sions, thus economizing space and renin to act differentially in regulating the dering the whole apparatus extremely com.

pact. Furthermore, the arrangement of the field windings also contributes to compactness in a high degree. If a special series field were connected for purposes of, obtaining a high startingtorque, it would contain as Inuch copper as both of the series fields 77 of Fig. 3, whether these were in the form of two distinct windings, as in the arrangement of Fig. 1, or were in the form of a divided winding, as in Fi 2. In addition to such a special series field winding, it would be necessary to provide another series windvv0 tage of the charging current, which would naturally require still more winding space.

Another advantage realized in the described apparatus isthe reliable, smooth,

. and positive engine operation insured there-' by. To start an engine from rest after standing for any length of time, requires "much more energy than if the engine is as not to overheat the dynamo windings or buckle the battery plates. This is also true even if the engine' should happen for any reason to be at a standstill with the switch in running position. I

Where it is desired to operate a lighting circuit also, leads 125 conduct current from the battery mains 29, 31, to lamp 126, a switch being provided in the lighting circuit as at 127. i

This application is a division of my prior application, Serial No. 22,085, filed April 17, 1915, and copending herewith.

What I claim is: 1. In an electrical system for use with into connect said ignition circuit and a part of said series winding to said power-supply circuit, and to connect said ignition c1rcu1t and all of said series field windin to said power-supply circuit when in anot er position.

2. In an electrical system for use with internal combustion engines, the combination with an internal combustion engine, and a dynamo motor arranged either to drive the crank shaft of said engine or to be driven thereby and provided with two serles field windings, of an ignition circuit, andswltch means operable to connect said ign1t1on c1rcuit and one or both of said series WlIlClings, alternatively, with a source of current supply. n

3. In an electrical system for use w1th 1nternal combustion engines, the combination,

started immediately after coming to a stand still. In the starting position of switch member 33, a heavy current is allowed to flow through the windings of the dynamo motor. This produces enough energy to break or start the engine. from rest; but

after it has started and the switch has been.

thrown to running position, enough current will still flow through the windings to keep the engine revolving even though the fuel supply be accidentally shut off. This results in what may be termed a non-stallsis able engine, which will'be kept revolving with a dynamo motor provided with t wo separate series fieldwin'dings, of an gnltion circuit including interrupting and hlgh tension distributing mechanism, a source of current supply, and switch means operable to connect saidignition circu1t' and one or both of said separate series windings, al ternatively, to said source of current supply.

4:. In an electrical system for use with 1nternal combustion engines, the combmation, with a dynamo motor provided with separate series field windings having different resistances, of a. source of'current supply, and switch means movable to connect said windings in multiple to said current supply, or to connect only the winding of higher resistance to said source of current supply.

5. In an electrical system for use withinternal combustion engines, the combmatlon, with a dynamo motor provided with two series field windings, of an ignition c1rcu1t, a

source of current supply, and switch means operable to Connect said ignition circuit and one or both of said series windings, alternatively, with said source of current supply.

6. .In an electrical system for use with in ternal combustion engines, the combination, with a dynamo motor provided with two seriesfield windings, of an ignition system including high tension distributing and current interrupting mechanism, a source of current supply, and unitary switch means operable to connect one or both of said series windings, alternatively, and said ignition system-with said source of current supply, said switch means being also operable to disconnect both windings and the ignition system from the source-of current supply.

7. In an electrical system for use with internal combustion engines, the combination, with a dynamo motor having shunt and se ries field windings, of a source of current supply, an ignition circuit, and switch means operable to connect a part or all of said series field winding, alternatively, and said ignition circuit to said source of current supply.

8. In an electrical system for use with internal combustion engines, the combination, with a dynamo motor having shunt and series field windings, of an ignition circuit including high tension distributing and circuit breaking mechanism driven by the armature shaft of said dynamo motor, centrifugally controlled means for governing the opera tion of ,said mechanism according to the speed of said dynamo motor,'a power circuit and switch means operable to connect said ignition circuit and said series winding to said power circuit.

9. 'In an electrical system for use with internal combustion engines, the combination, with a dynamo motor having two series field windings, of an ignition system including high tension distributing and current interrupting mechanism arranged to be operated by rotation of the armature of said dynamo motor, a power circuit, and switch means arranged when in one position to connect both said field windings in series with the power circuit, and when in another position to connect only one of said field windings with the power circuit, said switch means being arranged to connect said ignition system with said power circuit in both said positions.

10. In an electrical system for use with internal combustion engines, the combination, with a dynamo motor provided with two sesignature.

ries field windings, of an ignition system, a power-supply circuit, and switch means movable to assume two working positions and an off position, said switch means being arranged when in one working position to connect both said series windings and said ignition system with said power supply circuit, and when moved into its second working positionrto cut out one of said series windings, the other series winding and said ignition system being cut out of the circuit when said switching means is in off position, and resistance in series with said ignition system, and means whereby said resistance is bridged when said switch means is in its first working position.

11. In an electrical system for use with in- 'ternal combustion engines, the combination,

with a dynamo motor provided with a shunt and a series field winding, of an ignition system including high tension distributing and circuit-breaking mechanism associated with and arranged to be operated by said dynamo motor,-a power supply circuit, centrifugally controlled means arranged to time the operation of said ignition system in accordance with the speed of said dynamo motor, and a movable switch capable of assuming two working positions and an ofi position, said switch in one of its workingpositions connecting said ignition system and a part of said series field winding with said power supply circuit, and in its other working position connecting said ignition system and all of said series field winding with said power circuit, said ignition system and the entire series field winding being disconnected from the power supply circuit when said switch is in off position. .v

12. In an electrical system for use with internal'combustion engines, the combination, with a dynamo motor having shunt and series field windings, of a power supply circuit, switch means movable to connect said dynamo motor to said supply circuit for op- Ieration either as a motor or as a generator,

the arrangement being such that when the dynamo motor is connected for operation as a motor the resistance of its series field windings is less than when it operates as a gener-' ator. and an ignition circuit connected to said supply circuit in both positions of said switch means. Intestimony whereof I hereunto affix In JAMES K. DELANO. I 

